In Siddha Maha-Yoga, surrendering does not mean losing

Man’s biggest mystery is life itself. For a few minutes let us close our eyes and visualize any
physical element, say a gas like helium. In our visualization, let us bring this helium so near
to our vision that we can see its atoms. Now I ask myself, "What do I see in the space
between two atoms?" As a physical scientist, I would say "Nothing", or "Space".

Now, let’s go inside an individual atom. I “see” electrons, protons and neutrons and I am
curious, "Supposing, electrons, protons and neutrons of all atoms of the Universe were to
dissociate, what would remain?" The answer this time could be "Energy". I ask further, "Is
this energy electricity, heat, magnetism, light, etc.?" Impossible, since there remains no
material support for such energies. So what is this energy? Yogis call this energy as “Maha-
Prana”.

One need not be a Yogi to realize that all manifestations must be different and highly
complex transmutations of the same, all-pervading “Maha-Prana”. When working as an
animating Shakti in vegetables, animals and humans, it is simply known as Prana-Shakti.

Looking at the overall harmony and precision in Nature, it would not be un-scientific to conclude that
Prana is not only Force but also Intelligence, which logically must exist in all sentient and insentient
creation.

This Maha Prana-Shakti, while manifesting this Universe as animate and inanimate forms, set for
herself two fundamental Laws, viz. 1) The Law of Cause and Effect. (Every cause has an effect or a
network of effects and every effect has a cause or a network of causes); and 2) All Manifest Creation
must finally return to its un-manifest state;

The process of bringing the soul to birth (as human or as any other animal) is also brought
about by this self intelligent energy known as "Prana-Shakti". Friends, take yourselves to the
time when you were in your mother’s womb. Did you ask for two eyes and two ears? Or for one nose
and one mouth? Or for two hands and two legs? So, it is that very Intelligent Force viz. Prana Shakti
that decided and caused not only your body but also the mind to take a particular form and
constitution. It even caused the first heartbeat and the first breath and will continue to be the cause of
your breathing till death.

Once the task of animation is complete (i.e. at the time of birth), the “Prana-Shakti” as a
manifesting intelligent Force becomes dormant or inactive as this Shakti has finished Her work
of giving body and mind to a soul. From here onwards, Prana within the creature functions
predominantly through the mind and physical senses, while being subject to the Law of Cause and
Effect (better known as Karma). This soul has thus to “live out” or “pay for” or “enjoy” the fruits of
some or all of the past Karma in the current life-span.

This Dormant Prana-Shakti is known as Kundalini. Creatures with a dormant Prana-Shakti live
their lives according to the tendencies of the mind (Samskaras), which in turn have roots in
ones karmic past.

The ordinary creature mistakenly identifies sense pleasure with happiness and in the process creates
more “karma” which serves as cause for endless transmigration of the soul from one body to another,
i.e. the inexorable cycle of life and death. A thinking human soon realizes the uselessness of
trying to satisfy the senses and tries to see beyond this. Thus begins one's spiritual journey.

Put simply, actions of previous births become the cause-bank for different persons having
different constitution (swabhava). This constitution is mapped in our inner or Pranic Body in
which the Chakras are the energy plexuses which in turn are pre-set for that person according to
the karmic past or in-born tendencies of the mind, if one would like to refer to it.
Most Yoga Practices directly or indirectly aim at balancing these energy Chakras willfully. However,
as every individual is constitutionally different, it is difficult to select suitable practices, leading to
puzzlement.

Coming back to Prana-Shakti, if, after having completed her task of creation (birth), had this
“Kundalini” not become dormant, she would have commenced the process of reverting to Her un-
manifest state. In that process, having to work her way through the physical and astral body as also
the mind of that person, she must correct the Chakra pre-sets, since the aberrations represent obstacles
in her ascent.

The awakened Shakti thus effects these corrections by means of causing various corrective Kriyas,
thus bypassing the need to actually live out the karma.

Such corrective Kriyas could be physical, mental or even emotional in nature depending upon the
karmic requirements or the Chakra imbalance of the individual. Some of these could even be
imperceptible as when corrections are taking place concerning some hidden health disorder. As the
practitioner’s mind does not exert any will for these Kriyas, Siddha Maha Yoga could thus be seen as
“auto-customized”.

Although Hatha Yoga and Mantra Yoga present ways to awaken this Kundalini, these methods would
be arduous, hazardous and could lead the practitioner to be finally confronted by the stubborn ego, the
sense of “I-ness”, which prevents merger of consciousness with knowledge and bliss.

In Siddha MahaYoga, the Sadhaka’s dormant Shakti is awakened by the grace of the Guru at the time
of Initiation. Hence, during daily Siddha Yoga Sadhana, all one has to do is to sit relaxed and simply
surrender one’s will to the awakened Kundalini Shakti and be a calm witness as this Prana Shakti
works out various corrective Kriyas.

The preparatory practice for Siddha Maha Yoga consists of learning to hand over the mind, at least for
a few minutes everyday, to this Mother Prana Shakti manifesting in all of us as breath.

The Siddha Maha Yoga aspirant could thus make a start as outlined below:

1. Sit in any easy posture. Close the eyes calmly and with devotion.
2. Let the mind observe the automatic breath and the current through the
backbone.
3. Let your Prana-Shakti do this Sadhana.

If done regularly, this preparatory practice will result in many positive changes such as improved
concentration, removal of bad habits and eligibility for Kundalini awakening.

In due course it will also kindle one’s wish to obtain the Grace and Initiation from the right Guide on
this path. If such grace is showered, from then on, during daily Sadhana, the awakened Prana Shakti,
will cause appropriate corrective Kriyas and over time will remove all the physical, mental, emotional
and spiritual imbalances within the aspirant.

(Writer Anand M. Kulkarni is graced with Siddha Maha Yoga initiation from P.P. Shree Narayan Kaka
Dhekane Maharaj; Readers can reach him at: mahayogi@vsnl.com or mahayoganand@gmail.com )